The Trade Federation is a fictional organization that exists in the Star Wars universe at the time of the Galactic Republic. It was founded in 350 BBY.
Shortly before The Phantom Menace, Nute Gunray became the viceroy of the Trade Federation. He was manipulated by Darth Sidious who ordered him to set up a blockade of the planet Naboo and later invade Naboo in The Phantom Menace. However, the Gungans and the Naboo allied against the Trade Federation and capturing Nute Gunray. Ten years following the fail attempt to invade Naboo, he allies the droid armies of the Trade Federation with Count Dooku's forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems in Attack of the Clones, hoping to get revenge.
The Trade Federation maintained a sizable monopoly on interstellar trade and held considerable sway in the Galactic Republic, even managing to gain a seat in the Senate on the same level as a member world. In particular, they held maps of hyperspace routes closely rather than sharing them, enabling them to cement their hold over trade routes. Only the Jedi and the Office of the Chancellor were able to maintain maps of similar quality.
After the Clone Wars, what little remained of the Trade Federation's assets were seized by Emperor Palpatine to help build the Galactic Empire. Trade was nationalized by the time of the Battle of Yavin.
